Vacuum can closing machine



Oct. 13, 1942.

R; E. J. NORDQUIS'f VACUUM CAN CLOSING M'Acr 1 1m-: Filed May 9, 1959 2 SheetsSh'eet l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 1942- R. E. J. NORDQUIST VACUUM cm CLOSING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ajv:

Patented Oct. 13, 1942 vacuum CAN CLOSING MACHlNE Ronald E. J. Nordquist, Maplewood, N. J., as-

signor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 9, 1939, SerialNo. 272,703

2 Claims. (Cl- 113-14) The present invention relates to vacuum can closing machines and the like and has particular reference to accelerating the speed of filled cans moving within a vacuum chamber and in a manher which prevents spilling of the can contents.

An object of the invention is the provision in a vacuum can closing machine of devices which gently accelerate the speed of filled cans passing through the vacuumchamber of the machine so that the cans may be brought into register with other faster moving parts of the machine without spilling the contents of the cans.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional view of the principal parts of -a vacuum, can closing machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate the principal parts my issued patent aforesaid, includes ahousing If (Fig. 1-) which encloses a vacuum chamber l2 in which filled cans A are adapted to be sealed with can covers B.

The sealing of the cans is accomplished preferably by rotating seaming heads l3 which are disposed within the vacuum chamber, th cans being lifted into the seaming heads by lifter plungers ",this constituting a seaming unit of the machine. There are preferably a plurality of these seaming heads and lifter plungers in the seaming unit which are rotated by a gear i5 around a central column M. This is a usual closof a vacuum can closing machine of the character disclosed inmy United States Patent 2,039,338, issued May-5, 1936, on Vacuum closing machine.

. In my said prior patent no means are provided for gradually accelerating the speed of the filled cans and their superposed vertically spaced covers, while being vacuumized in the vacuum cham her and before being delivered by the rotating transfer turret in the vacuum chamber to the seaming turret also disposed within said chamber. This requires that to avoid partial spilling of the can contents during transfer of the vacuumized cans to the seaming head turret the latter andthe saidtransfer-turretin the chamber must rotate at substantially the same speeds.

. However it has been found that for best results under certain conditions the seeming head or turret should rotate at a higher rate ,of speed than the transfer turret or entrance valve, or at a higher rate of speed for seaming than for vacuumizing of the loosely covered cans. It is to obtain these relatively difierent speeds within the vacuum chamber without spilling of-any of the can contents during transfer of the vacue umized cans to the seaming heads or turret, that the instant invention is directed.

provements and which as to subject matter not ing machine construction.

The filled cans A with covers B held in suspension over them are preferably introduced into the vacuum chamber I2 by way of a rotating valve 2| which is carried in a cylindrical seat 22 disposed in a side of the housing II and having a can and cover entrance opening or port 23. The cans and their covers are carried in spaced pockets 24 provided in the valve.

As a valve pocket, beaiing'a can and its cover. moves into register with the entrance port 23, cam actuated fingers 26 disposed within the valve pocket pushes the can and cover out of the pocket into the vacuum chamber so that the can may, belvacuumized and then sealed with the cover. The can is received on a curved runway 21 and the cover is held in suspension over the can in a curved track 28 disposed above the runway.

To prevent spilling of the contents of the cans while they are being handled in the entrance valve 2|, the valve is preferably rotated at a slower rate of speed than that at which the seaming unit usually operates for best seaming results. Provision is made, however, for speeding up the travel of the cans and covers prior to com-v "transfer and accelerating device 3! which receives the cans and covers from the valve as they are pushed out on the runway 21 and track 28 and advances them toward the seaming .unit and ing device is located between the valve and the seaming unit.

The transfer and accelerating device 3| includes a plurality of transfer arms 32 having can A machine contemplated by the present impockets 33 and cover pockets 34 for engaging the cans and covers as they are pushed out of the claimed herein, is more completely disclosed in valve pockets 24. The transfer arms are each formed with a pivot pin 3. which is carried in a hub 31 of a sleeve 38 rotatably mounted on a vertical stationary column 39 secured in. the

frame of the machine.

The sleeve 38 is continuously rotated on the column 39. For this purpose the lower end of the sleeve is formed with a ring gear 4| which meshes with a pinion 42 carried on a vertical shaft 43 journaled in bearings 44 formed in a bracket 45 bolted to the machine frame. The shaft 43 also carries a gear 41 which meshes with a ring gear 48 which is formed integrally with a main spur gear 49 rotatably mounted on the column 39. This main gear meshes with and is driven by the seaming unit gear l5.

As the transfer arms 32 are carried around the column 39 they are shifted on their pivot pins 36 to accelerate the cans and covers being propelled by them. This shifting is effected by acam roller which is carried On a leg 52 of each transfer arm. The cam roller operates in a cam groove 53 of a stationary cam 54 supported on the column 39. This cam also supports the can cover track 28. Thus as the moving transfer arms swing past the valve 2i they receive an entering can and cover in their pockets 33, 34 and propel them along the curved runway 21 and track 28 while accelerating them gently so as to prevent spilling of the can contents. It is during this travel through the vacuum chamber that the canis vacuumized.

At the seaming unit ends of the runway and track, the transfer arms place the can on a lifter plunger I4 while still holding the cover above the can. The lifter plunger then raises the can vertically so that the cover is picked up on top of the can and both can and cover enter the seaming head I 3 for seaming. The transfer arm 32 travels around with the lifter plunger during this lifting operation until the can and cover are well into the seaming head and then continues its rotation while being shifted into position to receive another entering'can and cover.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from .2 2,29a,soe

the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of-- its material advantages, the.;form hereinbefore described being.

merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: p

1. In a vacuum can closing machine, the combination of a housing enclosing a vacuum chamber. a rotatable valve for introducing cans and covers in spaced vertical relation into said chamber-,a can sealing device in said chamber including means for moving the cans at a speed in excess of the speed of rotation of said valve for sealing the, covers onto said cans after the latter have been vacuumized, a rotarycan and cover transfer device disposed in said chamber between said valve and said sealing device, said transfer device maintaining the can and cover in spaced vertical relation and having means for receiving the can and cover from said valve while moving at the valvespeed and for gradually accelerating the speed of travel of the can and cover to the speed of the can moving means of the sealing device while the can is being vacuumized.

2. In a vacuum can closing machine, the combination of a housing enclosing a vacuum chamber, a rotatable valve for introducing cans and covers in spaced vertical relation into said chamher, a can sealing device in said chamber including means for moving the cans at a speed in excess of the speed of rotation of said valve for sealing the covers onto said cans after the latter have been vacuumized, a rotary can and cover transfer device disposed in said chamber between said valve and said sealing device, said transfer device including an arm for moving a can and for holding a cover in spaced relation thereto, and means for accelerating the speed of travel of the arm from the valve speed to the speed of the can moving means of the sealing device during its movement between said valve and said sealing device.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST. 

